PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 10, 2022.

SUBJECT : PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” (Jude 20.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 26 - 27:

8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helps our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

8:27: And He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

INTIMATION:

Praying in the Spirit is engaging the help of the Holy Spirit to communicate our petition to God the Father, and the Son, Jesus Christ, in the ecstatic or heavenly language that is unknown to anybody. The apostle Paul referred to it as “tongues of angels”(First Corinthians 13 vs 1). The Bible also refers to this as speaking in tongues (unknown language). Speaking in tongues is a legitimate gift of the Holy Spirit and is beneficial to the speaker. 

This is distinct from “other tongues,” the supernatural gift of speaking in another language without its haven been learnt as was the case at the Pentecost (Acts 2 vs 4 - 8), where the circumstances were recorded from the view-point of the hearers. To those in whose language the utterances were made it appeared as a supernatural phenomenon. But to some others, the  disciples were stammerers and drunkards (Acts 2 vs 13). However, what was uttered was not addressed primarily to the audience but consisted in recounting “the mighty works of God.” 

Jesus promised to send an “Helper” to all believers in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He helps us in our weaknesses, including our inadequacies in prayer: He makes intercession for us in prayers, communicating our petition to God when we do not know what we ought to pray. God is aware of our inadequacies and weaknesses hence He proactively arranged an Helper for us. 

Therefore, as a believer, you are not left to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don’t know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers. With God helping you pray, you don’t need to be afraid to come before Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for you “according to the will of God.” Then, when you bring your requests to God, trust that He will always do what is best.

The Scripture says, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” (First Corinthians 2 vs 10 - 12.)

The Holy Spirit is the third Person in the Godhead, and knows everything about God, including His Will. When we pray in the spirit, it is obvious that the Holy Spirit helping us, communicates our petitions to God in accordance with His Will. Because He knows God’s Will, and the deep things of God, He searches all things to ensure the appropriate presentation of our petition. And when we pray according to His Will we are sure receiving our petition, as the Scripture notes; “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we asked of Him. (First John 5 vs 14 - 15.)

Praying in the spirit is surrendering ourselves to the Spirit for His help. Because He knows what is in our heart where He dwells with the spirit of man, He will communicate our intentions to God in the best way that is in consonance with God’s Will, assuring us of answers to our petition. The answer may not come as we may intend to have them, but they come in our best interest known to God—God of all knowledge who knows the end from the beginning. 

Therefore, the best form of prayer is praying in the spirit where you are assured of no misrepresentations of facts, and praying in the Will of God which is supreme. Speaking in tongues is a legitimate gift of the Spirit given only to whomever God chooses. If a person has not experienced the gift of tongues, he or she ought not seek it but seek what gifts God has given. Those who do not speak in tongues ought not seek the gift as a sign of salvation or of special closeness with God, for it is neither of them. It is a desirable gift even though it isn’t a requirement of faith. It’s beneficial to the speaker. 

The Scripture says, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." (First Corinthians 14 vs 2.) When you speak in the heavenly language, the Holy Spirit our “Helper” and “Intercessor” takes over as our “Advocate” interpreting the mysteries we speak and communicate same to God, albeit He knows what is already in our heart where He dwells and communes with the spirit of man. Isn’t that great? 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of tongues, and of the Holy Spirit my Helper. Give me the grace to commune with You always in the Spirit with the assurance of receiving my petitions, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!